An Introduction to what happened before the Invasion of Ruhr.

After World war 1 and before the invasion of the Ruhr the Treaty of Versailles (TOV) was enforced (1919). This treaty mostly focused on having Germany surrender after causing a great extend of damage throughout World War 1. Before Germany signed the treaty, which forced them to 'cease fire' and 'surrender' their population was starving. Through this Germany was forced to sign. By signing Germany had to give in to the conditions, which were harsh due to the anti-German atmosphere at this point. The French Prime Minister, George Clemenceau showed the most hatred against the Germans due to the fact that his country had suffered a great deal throughout World War 1. Their economy was devastated, and there had been a high loss of industrial regions and of course an extensive amount of deaths. The 'Tiger' wanted the Germans to be crippled so that they could not attack the French. However George Clemenceau was not the only power deciding the terms of the TOV. In the end through signing the treaty the Germans were blamed for the war (article 231), they were forced to pay 2/3 of the  Reparations (Article 232), they could not have more than 100 000 soldiers and an air force and finally Germany lost 100% of its colonies and 13% of its own land (Territory). [9]

Although this picture is bias, by making
viewers think that the reparations were to much for the
Germans (from the Germans point of view) the picture resembles
what the world wanted from the Germans. The picture
identifies that the anti-German atmosphere was indeed
strong and how the world wanted to punish the
Germans. 
Reparations-Comic. N.d. N.p.
http://pimpjclark.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/reparations-treaty-of-versailles3.jpg

By having to pay 2/3 of the Reparations Germany was in doubt even though they could pay in kinds (goods) and not only money. The Germans tried to pay off the $33 billion with coal as they had the Ruhr industry. [5]  However by 1922 the defaults on payments had grown so large that the French and Belgium's used the seizure of the Ruhr as a way of encouragement, as the Ruhr accounted for 3/4 of Germany's steel and coal production. In 1922 Germany declared that they simply could not pay. Through this both the French and the British came to believe that a form or several forms of strong action were needed to teach the Germans a lesson. In addition Raymond Poincaré (the new French Prime minister) and France wanted to weaken Germany's economy as well as boost their own as they also had reparations to pay.  France's steel production was also draining away  and France was scared for their security as the Anglo-American guarantee was denied.[1]However France, who was a senior member of the league of nations would be breaking the league's rules if it were to invade.

The league of Nations

These rules had been agreed by not only the French but an international body whose soul purpose was to keep world peace. This international body had been given the name; the league of Nations and its aim's were to; stop war, improve peoples lives and jobs, disarmament and enforce the TOV. The rules or the powers, which the French would  be disobeying if they invade were; the power of covenant (all league member agreed to keep the peace), the power of condemnation (the league could tell a country it was doing wrong), Arbitration (the league could decide between two countries) and Sanctions (to stop trade). The power covenant, in which all league members agreed to keep the piece would be directly disobeyed by two league members through the invasion. Not only France, a major country in the league but Belgium would not keep the piece, in fact they started a conflict, which also went against the league's aims. On the other hand France believed that  if Germany could get away with the reparations or lower them then Germany could dismantle the other terms of the TOV, which once again disobeyed the league's aims. The major issue was that the league could not stop France and belgium as France and Belgium had the power to go against the league due to the fact that the league had no real physical power (army). Additionally the league needed the support of its major participants(this included France) and if France were to invade it would prove to the other nations that if you wanted to break the rules you could. [6]

The Invasion of the Ruhr. (1923-1925) (What the French did) and Passive Resistance (germany's response)

A poster from 1923 displaying a German protesting. The picture explains the passive resistance, before President Ebert instructed workers to go on strike. Although the French had deadly weapons, there Germans did not seem as scared as they should be. They did not jump back at the sight of the French, and walked with their hands in their pockets to the destination they wanted to go to. 
"Occupation of the Ruhr." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Ruhr>.

In the end the league of Nations had no way to stop France and belgium from invading. The only obstacle, which dragged out the start of the invasion was the vote from the reparations committee which allowed the French and Belgium soldiers to invade the Ruhr due to the defaults in coal deliveries (the vote was given on the 9th of January).  Then on the 11th of January the soldiers invaded. [5] Instantly Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno, became troubled, and the Weimar ministers declared the invasion as a deliberate act of French aggression and that they (the Germans) could not defend themselves due to the fact the the TOV had taken everything from them. [5] Germans rose to the streets protesting (first day of protests occurred on the day of the invasion). Through the invasion the German government informed the whole region of their plan.  Newspapers such as the “Allgemeine Zeitung” ‘advertised’ the passive resistance. As the government created awareness about the issue the (nonviolent) fight started to take off [3]. The railroad industry refused to cooperate, and the coal industries moved to Hamburg in order to protect files from the occupiers. This led to he French having to use its military to punish the rebels and to take over the railroad systems. They arrested five major coal company owners and commenced trials against them. [5]  Once again thousands of Germans rose to the streets outside of the courthouse. They attempted to use this opportunity to condemn the invasion, but all attempts failed. [5]  All the Germans could do was support the rebels, which were sabotaging the railroads such as Albert Schlagater,  who was one of these rebels,  serving the Freikorps. He however was caught and sentenced to death like all other German rebels were[3]. The French, who had a much stronger military  sealed of the Ruhr from the rest of the Germans, obstructing the Germans from any further sabotage. They frog-marched 150 000 civilians and non-essential workers out of the area. And in the end killed 130 German civilians (through death sentence) who had either rebelled against the invasion or they had been in their(French) way. Additionally  the industrial labour remained in the Ruhr, unable to escape (prevented from leaving). By July the French had managed to set up an 'exclusion zone', restricting traffic in and out of the Ruhr. This 'exclusion zone' made sabotage difficult and through the death sentencing of several Germans the Weimar government decided they had to act, but in a different manner. 

 The link below is a one minute clip, which first gives a revision of how the Invasion of the Ruhr started, but then a German citizen, who was a resident of the Ruhr in 1923 describes what it was like being under the French control and how the French handled them. Of course the woman's opinion is partially biased as she herself is German and stands up for her own people. The movie gives an idea in what a situation the Germans were in (French mishandled them) and the movie makes it easier to understand the next stage of the Invasion of the Ruhr (the hyperinflation).

Invasion of the Ruhr 

 Hyperinflation.

Picture number 1:  The pictures above represent how worthless banknotes were in Germany throughout the Hyperinflation. Both pictures display an everyday activity where we would normally use rubbish, or useless resources. However money is being used. This tells us that a few bank notes were rubbish at that time.

                                  Hyperinflation. N.d. N.p. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GLRSVZ6YhHw/                                                               TXKXm0pi5EI/AAAAAAAAA7c/e_CJxobZYf4/s1600/germany2.jpg

Picture number 2: A graph showing how Germany's moneys value decreased (how much one gold mark was equal too in paper marks)throughout the years.

Hyperinflation- Comparison. N.d. N.p.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/GermanyHyperChart.jpg/480px-GermanyHyperChart.jpg

The Weimar regime (government)  encouraged trade unions to organize a general strike in the Ruhr. This general strike involved freezing all industrial production so to hinder the French seizure of their resources. The Weimar government told the striking unions that they would continue to pay all salaries of the Ruhr workers. This lead onto the the Weimar government sabotaging its own economy as the money they had available to them was at a lack. They had no-way to pay the two million striking industrial workers. So either they give in to the invasion or they print extra banknotes to pay these salaries.

Through this policy the hyperinflation started (1923), but by september the striking was called of by  Gustav Stresseman (chancellor) due to the high unemployment and the hyperinflation. Gustav Stresseman introduced a new currency to the Germans. He replace the old mark by the new Rentenmark (3 billion old marks was equal to one Rentenmark) At the peak of the inflation one American dollar was equal to 13 trillion marks. [2]

The link below is a 3 minute video in which the hyperinflation is briefed on, and then groceries and different types of goods are listed in Germany, where the prices were raised dramatically due to the lack in money. Simple groceries such as bread would be more worth than a large box of money. Then the video goes onto the cause, and finally what effect this had on the people such as death. Many people starved, and lived under terrible living conditions during the hyperinflation, that Germany finally had to call of the strikes. 

Hyperinflation

Continuing on from the Hyperinflation

Rhenish Republic ( the three territories). Here is a  visual representation of what the French did in order to control the Germans and how  helpless this made the Germans. The French split Germany into 3 sections, breaking apart Germany. Through this the French believed they could control the Germans, which they ended up doing, but not for long.
Ruhr-Occupation. N.d. N.p.

http://www.aldridgeschool.org/humanities/
wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Rhur-occupation.jpg

Even though the striking had been called of, Germany was still in a state of emergency and aong its borders reigned the hyperinflation. This led to continuos civil unrest, in which riots targeted the Weimar government such as in the Beer Hall Putsch(Hitler and riots when to the streets). By October (1923) the French and Belgium troops enforced the Rhenish Republic. This split Germany into three territories; North, south and Ruhr. By 1924 The French had successfully made the Germans pay, but Germany had gained the world's sympathy. This sympathy for Germany and economical problems pressured the French into agreeing with the Dawes plan (April 1924). The sympathy came a large deal from the Americans and the British (part of the league of nations), which indicated that countries involved in the league of Nations had different views of how to solve problems. [9] The dawes plan lowered the reparation payments, starting with 1 billion mark in 1924, then rising until the payment per year was at 2.25 billion in 1927. [9] [10]  America also loaned 800million marks to the Germans, By lowering the reparations the TOV was partially damaged as Germany's payment was lowered, and they did not have to pay it all at once. On the other side through the more controlled environment Germany was able to let their economy heal. Stressemaan then built 3 million houses. Once again the league of Nations was impacted, as mentioned previously as the aims had been disobeyed. Then after the French had agreed to this payment they left Germany in 1925 (August) after they had delayed their leave by about one year (they were supposed to leave in April 1924).

Below is a link to a pdf, which displays a primary source (typed up). The primary source is a newspaper from within the Invasion of Ruhr, which is completely focused on the German's perspective of the invasion. In the first to second page the newspaper informs readers of what the French have done and how the Germans are responding to taxes, and forced labour. The newspaper cites other newspapers such as the 'Berlin Zeit' who is amused by the fact that the French will not be receiving any coal due to the strike. One quote even says the France has 'smashed the dictates of Versailles', and the France should not be using guns to step out of their despair, but to find other tactics. The newspaper displays maps and comics, which only encourage the Germans opinion. The newspaper is bias, but it boldens the Germans despair at this point in time. 

The literary digest for February 10, 1923- Germany's "Triumph of Despair"

Bibliography

[1] League of Nations. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/leagueofnations.htm

[2] "Invasion of the Ruhr." - Key Stage 3. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. <http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-weimar-republic/invasion-of-the-ruhr/#.UvylUf1mhg0>.

[3] "Weimar Germany." Weimar Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. <http://alphahistory.com/weimargermany/ruhr-occupation/>.

[4] "France Occupies the Ruhr 1923 - Inter-war Period: Causes of WWII." France Occupies the Ruhr 1923 - Inter-war Period: Causes of WWII. N.p., n.d Web. 09 Mar. 2014. <http://inter-wars.weebly.com/france-occupies-the-ruhr-1923.html>.

[5] "Germans Defend Ruhr Valley from French Invasion (Ruhrkampf), 1923-1924." Global Nonviolent Action Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/germans-defend-ruhr-valley-french-invasion-ruhrkampf-1923-1924>.

[6] To What Extent Was the Failure and Collapse of the League of Nations the Cause of the Second World War? Uahsibhistory, n.d. Web. <http://uahsibhistory.wikispaces.com/To+what+extent+was+the+failure+and+collapse+of+the+League+of+Nations+the+cause+of+the+Second+World+War%3F>.

[7] "Occupation of the Ruhr." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Ruhr>.

[8]"World War I: Treaties and Reparations." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, 10 June 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007428>.

[9] "Hyperinflation and Weimar Germany." Hyperinflation and Weimar Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/hyperinflation_weimar_germany.htm>.

[10]"The Dawes Plan, the Young Plan, German Reparations, and Inter-allied War Debts - 1921–1936 - Milestones - Office of the Historian." The Dawes Plan, the Young Plan, German Reparations, and Inter-allied War Debts - 1921–1936 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/dawes>.

Ruhr-Occupation. N.d. N.p.

http://www.aldridgeschool.org/humanities/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Rhur-occupation.jpg

Hyperinflation. N.d. N.p.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3cXDVrqvqoXQxM8FjkwpBUwiNsBaf0XisykgKZiRzzT1HODfyBuWyVMxh4fhUIeoHXWonNcCB6RuRCSKP-x6MVPqOvPvBR_kSgSmWS0EzRO5JKVsvusOmxu8CSW-uvPEEjQYpbVRmtj8/s1600/germany2.jpg

Reparations-Comic. N.d. N.p.

http://pimpjclark.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/reparations-treaty-of-versailles3.jpg

Hyperinflation-

Comparison. N.d. N.p.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/GermanyHyperChart.jpg/480px-GermanyHyperChart.jpg